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January 24, 2008
RICE DEFENDS US IDEALS AT WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
Photo: Tony Blair (L), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1997-2007); Member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum; Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008 , Condoleezza Rice (C), US Secretary of State and Henry A. Kissinger, Chairman, Kissinger Associates, USA; Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008, captured during the session 'Opening Plenary' at the Annual Meeting 2008 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2008. (Copyright by World Economic Forum. Photo by Annette Boutellier)
Davos, Switzerland, 23 January 2008 - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting that American foreign policy must be driven by a combination of ideals and optimism because international problems may be managed but never resolved without them.
"There is not one challenge in the world today that will get better if we approach it without confidence in the appeal and effectiveness of our ideals - political and economic freedom, open markets and free and fair trade, human dignity and human rights, equal opportunity and the rule of law," she said in the opening address to the 38th World Economic Annual Meeting.
Despite the current turbulence on international markets, the long-term fundamentals of the US economy are sound, she declared. Nevertheless, if the global economy is to continue to grow, the world needs an entirely new approach to energy and the environment. "We have to ... cut the Gordian knot of fossil fuels, carbon emissions and economic activity," she said. The US is ready to do its part on climate change and global warming.
Photo: Al Gore, Vice-President of the United States of America (1993-2001); Nobel Laureate 2007 captured during the session 'A Unified Earth Theory: Combining Solutions to Extreme Poverty and the Climate Crisis' at the Annual Meeting 2008 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 24, 2008. (Copyright by World Economic Forum. Photo by Remy Steinegger)
Photo: Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan gestures as he talks during the session 'The Quest for Peace and Stability' at the Annual Meeting 2008 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 24, 2008. (Copyright by World Economic Forum. Photo by Andy Mettler)
Turning to the issue of democracy, Rice suggested that the notion is sometimes controversial when applied to the Middle East, with some arguing that it has "made the situation worse." But, said Rice: "I would ask, worse compared to what?" Things are certainly no worse than when the Syrian army controlled Lebanon, when Palestinians could not elect their leaders or when Saddam Hussein exercised his "tyranny", Rice said.
"The main problem for democracy in the Middle East has not been that people are not ready for it. The problem is that there are violent forces of reaction that should not be allowed to triumph," she said. And, she added, nobody should be under any illusion that the problems will get easier "if we approach them in a less principled fashion."
When it comes to diplomacy, America has no permanent enemies because it harbours no "permanent hatreds," said Rice. Nowhere is this more clearly illustrated than in relations with Russia. "The recent talk about a new cold war is hyperbolic nonsense," Rice said.
Similarly, Washington has no desire for permanent enmity with Iran. "We have no conflict with Iran's people, but we have real differences with Iran's government - from its support for terrorism, to its destabilizing policies in Iraq, to its pursuit of technology that could lead to a nuclear weapon."
Photo: Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations, New York addresses the audience during the session 'Time Is Running Out for Water' at the Annual Meeting 2008 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 24, 2008. (Copyright by World Economic Forum. Photo by Remy Steinegger)
A few minutes before, Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan, reminded participants of the ongoing war against terrorism being waged in his country and urged regional governments to move beyond words to concrete action. "Complacency must no longer be tolerated," he declared. He also underlined the need to root out terrorist sanctuaries and to target individuals and entities that harbour sources of extremism with impunity.
Speaking on the same platform, Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Geneva, called for a more serious effort to combat global warming, reminding business, government and civil society leaders that the results will benefit health and security in the entire world. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 11:40 AM | View the original post
PENTAX Announces K20D with 14.6 Megapixels, K200D with Advanced Technologies and Five Digital Lenses
Photo: PENTAX Announces K20D Digital SLR With 14.6 Megapixels, Custom Image Functions And Award Winning Technology.
PENTAX Imaging Company announced today two new digital SLR camera models including the PENTAX K20D digital SLR camera with 14.6 megapixels and the PENTAX K200D digital SLR with 10.2 megapixels. Both cameras are equipped with advanced features including dust- proof and weather-resistant bodies, an improved PRIME image processor, and PENTAX developed Shake Reduction that works with any of the 24 million PENTAX lenses ever manufactured.
PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of digital SLR and compact cameras, lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, eyepieces and mobile printers and scanners. With headquarters in Golden, Colorado, PENTAX Imaging Company is a division of PENTAX of America, Inc. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:25 AM | View the original post
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA -- LILY CLOUDS
Photo: South Carolina artist Jocelyn Chateauvert's created "Lily Clouds" from flax paper and sterling silver wire. "Lily Clouds" is on display, hanging from the chapel ceiling in the Medical University of South Carolina's new 641,000 square foot hospital which will open on February 4. This piece represents only one of 873 pieces of original, contemporary art completed by 54 South Carolina artists created to inspire serenity and a healing environment for patients, caregivers and families.
The value of the integration of arts and a healing environment in a healthcare setting is being recognized by a growing number of leading medical institutions, including Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt and Stanford.
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:24 AM | View the original post
Paris Hilton Launches New Footwear Collection at Macy's South Coast Plaza
COSTA MESA, Calif., Jan. 23 -- The exclusive Paris Hilton Footwear Collection USA national launch will take place at Macy's South Coast Plaza on February 8th from 3-6 pm, where Paris will personally unveil her new line of stylish, comfortable and affordable footwear.
Plus, from February 1st to the 8th, girls can not only get a sneak peak of the line at Macy's South Coast Plaza, but the first 200 customers to make a purchase from the Paris Hilton Footwear Collection during that time will also get the chance to meet Paris and receive an autographed photo at the February 8th launch event.
The Paris Hilton Footwear Collection features a range of styles that are chic and trendy -- from sexy stilettos and platforms to must-have flats, wedges and boots -- while boasting the highest-quality components and finishes. Paris -- a dedicated shoe aficionado -- has personally selected the styling, design, materials and colors for the line, while working with the collection's licensing company, Antebi Footwear, to bring her vision to life.
The Paris Hilton Footwear Collection will be available at Macy's, Kitson, Zappos.com, Endless.com, Bakers, Lord & Taylor and select specialty boutiques across the USA. |GlobalGiants.com|
Source: Antebi Footwear Group
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:14 AM | View the original post
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008 Opens With Calls For Collaborative Innovation
Photo: Impression of the Annual Meeting 2008 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2008. (Copyright by World Economic Forum. Photo by Annette Boutellier)
Photo: Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State, captured during the 'Opening Address' at the Annual Meeting 2008 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2008. (Copyright by World Economic Forum. Photo by Andy Mettler)
Davos, Switzerland, 23 January 2008 - The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008 has opened with calls from the Co-Chairs to exercise "The Power of Collaborative Innovation" to meet the top challenges of economic instability, climate change and equitable growth.
Photo: Tony Blair (L), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1997-2007); Member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum; Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008 and Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State captured during the Opening Plenary at the Annual Meeting 2008 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2008. (Copyright by World Economic Forum. Photo by Remy Steinegger)
Photo: Condoleezza Rice (L), US Secretary of State and Henry A. Kissinger, Chairman, Kissinger Associates, USA; Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008 captured during the session 'Opening Plenary' at the Annual Meeting 2008 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2008. (Copyright by World Economic Forum. Photo by Remy Steinegger)
Photo: Yasuo Hayashi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan, captured during the session '2008 World Economic Brainstorming: Addressing Uncertainty' at the Annual Meeting 2008 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2008. (Copyright by World Economic Forum. Photo by Remy Steinegger)
"This is a moment of greater insecurity and challenge in the world today, but it makes a meeting like this all the more important. The theme of the Annual Meeting, 'The Power of Collaborative Innovation' is the answer to all the big global challenges we are facing," said Co-Chair Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1997-2007) and Member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum.
Photo: A participant of the Annual Meeting 2008 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2008 reads the Financial Times, informing herself about the stock exchange turbulences. (Copyright by World Economic Forum. Photo by Andy Mettler)
In total, over 240 sessions are taking place over the course of the five-day Meeting, as well as related smaller, private meetings and the Open Forum, which the general public is invited to attend. The programme is organized around five sub-themes:
• Business: Competing While Collaborating
• Economics and Finance: Addressing Economic Insecurity
• Geopolitics: Aligning Interests across Divides
• Science and Technology: Exploring Nature's New Frontiers
• Values and Society: Understanding Future Shifts
More than 2,500 participants from 88 countries are in Davos, Switzerland, including 27 heads of state or government, 113 cabinet ministers, along with religious leaders, media leaders and heads of non-governmental organizations. Around 60% of the participants are business leaders drawn principally from the Forum's members - 1,000 of the foremost companies from around the world and across all economic sectors.
The Co-Chairs of the meeting are:
• Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1997-2007); Member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum
• James Dimon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, JPMorgan Chase & Co., USA
• K.V. Kamath, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, ICICI Bank, India
• Henry Kissinger, Chairman, Kissinger Associates, USA
• Indra K. Nooyi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo, USA
• David J. O'Reilly, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chevron, USA
• Wang Jianzhou, Chairman and Chief Executive, China Mobile Communications Corporation, People's Republic of China
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:33 AM | View the original post
